Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Within the vast confines of Pavilion Kuala Lumpur, there seems to be a number of choices for Italian fare, and we decided to try out Caffe Vivo on the uppermost level on a Saturday afternoon.

Indeed, Caffe Vivo did have the classic Italian furnishings and did feel quite cosy and comfortable. The staff were, however, a mixed bag.

One server was really friendly and pleasant, while there was another one who just seemed to be very disinterested and somewhat glum faced all the time. Nevertheless, we were here for the food and for the most part, it did not disappoint.

Parma Ham Wrapped Grissini

We started off with some parma ham wrapped grissini and this was very nice indeed. The salty, savory parma paired really well with the crunchy breadsticks and they looked gorgeous at the same time. This could really work as finger food at any bar to be honest.

Mushroom Risotto

Both of us had risottos for the day, and as usual, Pauline would go for the mushroom one. It was really lovely and colorful to look at. Although it was slightly on the salty side, it was a fairly tasty plate of risotto. The risotto rice was nicely cooked, though slightly soft for Asian tastes, I presume.

Seafood Risotto

I had the seafood risotto and had largely the same flavors as the mushroom one. But there was a generous amount of shrimp and scallops in it to give it that more sweeter aftertaste. Again, it looked beautiful on the plate and overall, it was quite flavorsome.

Tiramisu

The chef certainly had an eye for beauty, as their tiramisu was just stunning from a visual standpoint. Laced with bits of kiwi and strawberries for color, the tiramisu itself was more cylindrically shaped with an outer chocolate layer. As for the taste itself, it was smooth and rich. The acid from the fruits did balance the sweetness nicely.

As Italian cafes go, Caffe Vivo certainly meets the mark with its competent settings and menu items. The food itself is good, but not yet reaching greatness at this point. That said, there are fewer Italian cafes that serve such beautifully plated food.

Caffe Vivo
6.12.00, Level 6
Pavilion, Kuala Lumpur

Written, filmed, edited and directed by Silverchef Productions.
Shot and edited entirely on Apple's Iphone 4 and at Grand Millennium Kuala Lumpur.
No grissini was harmed in the shooting of this video.
"Every Breath You Take" performed by Brooke White.